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Belgium ousts U.S. in World Cup despite Tim Howard's heroics in goal

A France soccer fan, with his face painted with the team's colors arrives at the National Stadium to watch World Cup round of 16 match against Nigeria, in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, June 30, 2014. France's Paul Pogba scored with a late header to finally break Nigeria's stubborn resistance and Joseph Yobo scored an own-goal as France won 2-0 to reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Monday. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

In this June 21, 2014 photo, a German supporter cheers for her national team before the group G World Cup soccer match between Germany and Ghana at the Arena Castelao in Fortaleza, Brazil. The Germans finished with two wins and a draw, topping group G with seven points. The three-time World Cup champions will face Algeria in the next round, in Porto Alegre, Monday, June 30. (AP Photo/Martin Mejia)

In this June 13, 2014 photo, a Dutch fan wears a helmet with a Brazilian flag motif, decorated with carrots hanging from its sides, during the group B World Cup soccer match between Spain and the Netherlands at the Arena Ponte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. The Netherlands, the tournament's highest scoring team, is set to meet arguably the tournament's best goalkeeper in Mexico's Guillermo Ochoa in the round of 16 in Fortaleza, Sunday, June 29. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko)

A fan sings the Brazilian national anthem prior to the start of the World Cup group A soccer match between Brazil and Mexico, at the FIFA Fan Fest in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Tuesday, June 17, 2014. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills)

Argentinian fans cher reacting to the photographer as they arrive to attend the group F World Cup soccer match between Argentina and Iran at the Mineirao Stadium in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Saturday, June 21, 2014. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)

In this June 24, 2014 photo, a Colombian soccer fan decked out in his team's colors, cheers before the start of the group C World Cup soccer match between Japan and Colombia at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiaba, Brazil. Colombia demolished Japan 4-1, advancing the South Americans to the next round where they will face off with Uruguay, in Rio de Janeiro, Saturday, June 28. (AP Photo/Felipe Dana)

A Belgian fan cheers for his national team before the group H World Cup soccer match between South Korea and Belgium at the Itaquerao Stadium in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

A Costa Rican soccer fans with his face painted in the country's national colors gets warmed up as he prepares to watch a round of 16 World Cup match against Greece, in San Jose, Costa Rica, Sunday, June 29, 2014. (AP Photo/Esteban Felix)

SALVADOR, BRAZIL | For a full 90 minutes, Belgium’s almost relentless attack added up to nothing in the face of Tim Howard.

Only in extra time was the superb United States goalkeeper finally beaten.

Kevin De Bruyne turned a heroic night for Howard into defeat on Tuesday with an extra-time goal and an assist that gave Belgium a 2-1 victory and a quarterfinal match against Lionel Messi and Argentina.

With three extra-time goals in a thrilling match, De Bruyne and substitute Romelu Lukaku gave Belgium a 2-0 lead before Julian Green of the U.S. closed the gap with 12 minutes to go.

Belgium’s attacks for 90 only highlighted the great performance of the 35-year-old Howard, but his teammates finally wilted in the evening heat once extra time came.

“They were all on their limit,” United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. “[Howard] had an absolutely amazing match.”

Playing the finest game of his career, Howard stopped a dozen shots with his legs and arms to keep the Americans even through regulation and force an additional 30 minutes. He wound up with 16 saves — the most in the World Cup since FIFA started keeping track in 2002.

Three minutes into overtime, Lukaku found space on the right and passed into the center. At first, the ball was poked out before De Bruyne gained possession. Belgium’s creative genius still had the energy for a sharp turn, and his low shot missed the yellow foot of Howard and settled inside the post.

Realizing he had finally been beaten, Howard fell back on the grass almost in slow-motion, arms and legs outstretched and eyes staring up into the darkness over the Arena Fonte Nova. The best man of the match turned out to be on the losing side.

“The levee is going to break at some point,” said Howard, who plays for Everton in the Premier League.

In the 105th minute, Belgium looked like it had put the game away. De Bruyne launched Lukaku into open space on the left, and the Everton striker beat his club teammate with a drive to the near post.

It wasn’t over on a sticky, anxiety-ridden night, however.

The Americans got late hope when Green pulled one back in the 107th minute with a sterling volley on the turn that Thibaut Courtois could only touch before he saw it fly into his net.

Suddenly, Klinsmann started wildly shouting with flailing arms “Come on, come on,” and there was a new team on the field.

“It was a game that just went to the extreme,” Klinsmann said.

Now, it was the Belgium’s turn to be caught flat-footed. With six minutes to go, the Americans almost got the equalizer. A free kick move set Clint Dempsey free in the center with only Courtois to beat. But the Belgium keeper proved he is one of the world’s best by spreading his giant body to smother the shot.

“The second extra time was a total turnaround. Suddenly, they had all the energy,” De Bruyne said.

With waves of chants of “USA, USA” echoing around the 48,000-seat stadium, the reinvigorated Americans kept searching for a late goal right up until the final whistle.

It never came.

“We just needed a little bit more luck,” Klinsmann said.

Belgium had been criticized for its low scoring rate at the World Cup, but it was not for want of trying on Tuesday. The team had 27 shots on Howard, compared to nine for the United States.

Victory came preciously close for the Americans with seconds to go in regulation time when a goalmouth scramble brought the ball to Chris Wondolowski, who skied the ball over from the six-meter line.

When President Barack Obama started watching the game in the second half, all he could see was increasing one-way traffic facing his team. Belgium’s Divock Origi hit the bar with a header in the second half, two players totally missed the ball for what would have been a tap-in goal and Howard swatted away ever more balls.